Page 9 | To think shop workers shouldn't be asking people why they aren't wearing a mask?

Original poster

GlummyMcGlummerson · 05/08/2020 16:51

Look if you aren't happy about people in shops not wearing masks then give them a wide berth and keep your comments, questions and dirty looks to yourself. Don't think your right to be protected from something that a mask doesn't even prevent anyway is more important than their reason for not wearing one

OP posts:

Branleuse · 05/08/2020 16:51

youre not even disabled OP. Youre talking about someone you know. Appropriating THEIR struggle and using it as a weapon against another disabled person who gets anxious about people not wearing masks.
Ive already said I wouldnt confront your friend. I wouldnt confront anyone about it, but in the context of a mumsnet debate on whether people should even be asked why theyre not wearing a mask, then I do believe people should be able to get exemptions, but i dont think its bad that they are being asked if they have one. Whether they are disabled or not.
Everyone in my family has a disabilty, and you can rest assured noone tiptoes around us about the things we cant do. If we want special treatment, extra funding or help, then we have to do a hell of a lot more than just quickly say the words.
You have no idea

LangClegsInSpace · 05/08/2020 16:51

@GlummyMcGlummerson

I'm sure she could put one on (well I know she physically could she has ears afterall) but the repercussions for if she fits are drastic. It affects everything from her ability to drive, to her ability to work, and above all her mental health would take a huge nose dive. She hasn't fitted for 14 months and for her that's huge.

But it seems plenty of people are waiting in the wings ready To knock her spirits because they think a flashing of a card is the only way to believe that she's right in not wearing a mask

I'm pretty sure that when the government say 'not being able to put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability' they include not being able to do so safely and not being able to do so without harming your health.

That is very very different from people claiming 'I'm exempt but I choose to wear one anyway'

If they are wearing one and it's not safe or it's harming their health then they should stop.

If they can wear one without difficulty then they are not exempt and they do not get to 'choose'.

Jellybeansincognito · 05/08/2020 16:52

@countrygirl99 I think there should be a certain amount of challenging to this, else the majority of people wouldn’t wear one (there’s so much negativity about them).

Original poster

GlummyMcGlummerson · 05/08/2020 16:53

@Jellybeansincognito

‘ I think vulnerable people and disabled people have become so dehumanised by the general public people forget you're talking about a person with feelings. Why the fuck should an elderley man who suffered sexual abuse as a child have to be reminded of that constantly in order to placate other people's bigoted little power trips? If I see someone without a mask, I assume there's a reason for not having one. I feel genuinely sorry for people who have such a poor outlook in life that they think "that person probably doesn't have a good enough reason, I hope they have a magical flower badge to prove their worthiness."‘

^ wow op.
I am pro mask but I do not feel this way.
I do feel however if someone is medically exempt, especially for the reason above- they probably shouldn’t be trying to get back to normality yet, because we are still mid pandemic and the result of getting covid for these people will be a lot worse than for others.

Yes he is exempt from wearing a mask in a shop, but if he needed it to stay alive (oxygen mask) , I would imagine the effect of that would be massive.

Can you not see this?

None of it is ideal, but the sooner we beat the virus the faster we can get back to normality. We can’t do this whilst it’s still spreading.

Do you know how few people need to wear an oxygen mask if they contract COVID? And shouldn't that be a risk that HE is willing to take, as a grown adult? People have been shielding for almost half a year, saying "oh just stay in longer" is not fair or acceptable if going out is quite safe for them

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IAmFleshIAmBone · 05/08/2020 16:53

Dom, if you are able to wear a mask you're not exempt. Couldn't be any clearer. You can't choose not to be exempt.

countrygirl99 · 05/08/2020 16:53

@DomDoesWotHeWants the only exemption is if you can't wear a mask. If you can you are not exempt.
@GlummyMcGlummerson I've never understood how little empathy some people have for anyone else. When I or my DH have been out there has been possibly 1 person not wearing a mask but the mask stasi are apparently all surrounded by them. It does make me wonder.

QueenofmyPrinces · 05/08/2020 16:54

What is it about wearing a mask that he thinks will cause a seizure?

Original poster

GlummyMcGlummerson · 05/08/2020 16:55

youre not even disabled OP. Youre talking about someone you know. Appropriating THEIR struggle and using it as a weapon against another disabled person who gets anxious about people not wearing masks

How do you know I'm not disabled?

I don't think "appropriating" means what you think it means. If i appropriated my friends experience I'd be claiming it was my own experience. Which I'm not doing.

YOU have made this about you having a disability and, despite the fact I didn't even k ow you were disabled, have bizarrely called me ableist simply because I challenged your view.

Like I said if you don't like the thought of people with no masks on then give them a wide berth. Problem solved.

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Branleuse · 05/08/2020 16:56

They should have made masks compulsory a lot sooner and fine people for not wearing them like they do in other parts of europe unless a valid exemption. This government response has been a shitshow. The countries compliance is a shit show.

Original poster

GlummyMcGlummerson · 05/08/2020 16:57

When I or my DH have been out there has been possibly 1 person not wearing a mask but the mask stasi are apparently all surrounded by them. It does make me wonder.

Same here I think I've only seen one or two people, if that, per supermarket trip. But apparently no one wants to wear a mask and everyone a piss taker

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Original poster

GlummyMcGlummerson · 05/08/2020 16:58

What is it about wearing a mask that he thinks will cause a seizure?

Are you talking about the elderley man who was raped? Why is it any of your business? Should the poster who told that story call him up to ask him? Would that make you happy?

Fucking disgraceful

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Original poster

GlummyMcGlummerson · 05/08/2020 16:59

@Branleuse

They should have made masks compulsory a lot sooner and fine people for not wearing them like they do in other parts of europe unless a valid exemption. This government response has been a shitshow. The countries compliance is a shit show.

I agree about government response but compliance has been exceptionally high. Unless you are upset that disabled people aren't being compliant?

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DomDoesWotHeWants · 05/08/2020 16:59

[quote countrygirl99]@DomDoesWotHeWants the only exemption is if you can't wear a mask. If you can you are not exempt.
@GlummyMcGlummerson I've never understood how little empathy some people have for anyone else. When I or my DH have been out there has been possibly 1 person not wearing a mask but the mask stasi are apparently all surrounded by them. It does make me wonder.[/quote]
I'll tell my GP that you're right and he's wrong. I'm sure he'll be impressed.

Jellybeansincognito · 05/08/2020 16:59

So you think his risk should trump the health of others? @GlummyMcGlummerson

There’s disabled people who can wear masks but choose not to (fair enough) whilst there’s deaf people who are unable to communicate with anyone because of masks.

It’s not ideal, or fair. But what else can we do?

This is far more than being fair and trying to not discriminate, we’re all losing something here- there are no winners. We’re trying to beat a virus and get out of a pandemic.

LangClegsInSpace · 05/08/2020 17:01

@DomDoesWotHeWants can you wear a mask or not?

Jellybeansincognito · 05/08/2020 17:01

I’m not saying he should wear a mask btw, I do have empathy.

I just don’t think walking around without a mask is the right solution because if they get covid the reaction to this will be a lot worse.

lakesidesummer · 05/08/2020 17:01

I think more understanding on both sides would be a good idea.
Both for people who aren't able to wear masks and workers at increased risk in shops trying to get mandates adhered to.

And shouldn't that be a risk that HE is willing to take, as a grown adult?

This however misses the point. Not wearing a mask doesn't put the non mask wearer at significant additional risk, it puts everyone else around them at the additional risk.
You wear a mask to protect others, not yourself.
So by choosing not to wear a mask it isn't you that you are choosing to put at risk but others.

Original poster

GlummyMcGlummerson · 05/08/2020 17:02

@Jellybeansincognito

So you think his risk should trump the health of others? *@GlummyMcGlummerson*

There’s disabled people who can wear masks but choose not to (fair enough) whilst there’s deaf people who are unable to communicate with anyone because of masks.

It’s not ideal, or fair. But what else can we do?

This is far more than being fair and trying to not discriminate, we’re all losing something here- there are no winners. We’re trying to beat a virus and get out of a pandemic.

You do realise that masks aren't a magical cure and if someone has a mask nearby you could still get COVID? If you socially distance, sterilise etc the usual steps then the risks are minimal. Hence my advice to give a wide berth.

So in short I think his risk comes first, yes. On the balance of probability I think an elderley man having a breakdown about a rape he suffered as a 9yo is a bigger risk than it is to others if he is in a shop and everyone is socially distancing.

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QueenofmyPrinces · 05/08/2020 17:03

Are you talking about the elderley man who was raped? Why is it any of your business? Should the poster who told that story call him up to ask him? Would that make you happy? Fucking disgraceful!

Blimey - I only asked how epilepsy is triggered by wearing a mask!

MidnightCitrus · 05/08/2020 17:04

@GlummyMcGlummerson

My friend is epileptic. She can't wear a mask because it takes very little to trigger a fit, and wearing a mask creates too much of a risk. Over the last 2 days she's been asked in 3 different places (Greggs, Morrison's and the Co-Op) in an abrupt and snotty way "Where is your mask?" By staff. This is with lots of other customers around. She responded "I'm medically exempt" and has been asked why she's exempt in two of those places. She's also been told (online) that she should stay in to protect others and get someone else to do her shopping etc.

AIBU to think this is appalling ableist behaviour to put someone on the spot in front of others? She doesn't owe anyone her medical history. Yes there's sunflower lanyards she can pick up but she's apprehensive about wearing anything around her neck for obvious reasons. Why can't we just trust others that they're doing it in their best interests?

If she doesnt want to wear a lanyard, then she can maybe wear lanyard attached to a badge on her top?

Why can't we just trust others that they're doing it in their best interests? Because people are fucking idiots.

mornington27 · 05/08/2020 17:05

This ought to be the role of the police, but they are so few in number that shops are expected to ask. Though it can be done in a better way than seems to have been the case.

Jellybeansincognito · 05/08/2020 17:06

Yes, the risks are so minimal despite all of this advice we are still in the middle of a pandemic this August when it begun in March. 😏

(I also said previously, masks reduce the risk of transmission, not prevent it. Paired with the rest, it is better than nothing).

Original poster

GlummyMcGlummerson · 05/08/2020 17:06

Blimey - I only asked how epilepsy is triggered by wearing a mask

Well when you said "he" I assumed you were talking about the man who's been the subject of the last few posts. My friend is a woman.

Funnily enough I didn't ask her to give me a breakdown of exactly why something triggers her fits. I trust that she knows her condition and it's triggers, and didn't require further explanation. Do your own research if you want to k ow the answer

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Original poster

GlummyMcGlummerson · 05/08/2020 17:07

@mornington27

This ought to be the role of the police, but they are so few in number that shops are expected to ask. Though it can be done in a better way than seems to have been the case.

No shops are not expected to ask. They aren't supposed to ask. It's not a police job either. I'd much rather police be dealing with the huge spike in domestic violence TBH

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